SAFE MEDIA RELEASE
24 MARCH 2009
The resumption of live sheep exports to the Middle East will seriously damage New Zealand’s international reputation and set back animal welfare by a decade.
New Zealand’s second-largest animal advocacy organisation SAFE says the National-led government has made its first move to reveal it is not committed to animal welfare. The Minister of Agriculture’s decision to allow the cruel live export trade to resume has sparked immediate talks of action between leading national and international animal advocacy agencies.
The Minister of Agriculture has signed a death-sentence for New Zealand sheep and perhaps also New Zealand’s thriving export industry. Exporting petrified sheep halfway across the world by sea for nearly a month only to have their throats cut in the most barbaric way at their destination is reprehensible and will not be tolerated by overseas consumers, says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek.
SAFE refutes the Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, can assure animal welfare standards can be maintained on board and will challenge the Minister to prove otherwise.
The Minister cannot possibly guarantee that animal welfare standards will be maintained on board these death ships. Every sheep shipment that has left New Zealand for the Middle East for the past 20 years has resulted in hundreds of animals dying, and thousands more suffering. The Minister is treating the suffering of these animals with contempt.
SAFE will ask the Minister to explain what he considers to be an acceptable level of animal suffering and mortality on board these ships.
How can the government sanction sending tens of thousands of New Zealand sheep to endure slaughter and handling methods which are illegal in this country? We will advise the Minister to expect unprecedented national and international campaigning if resumption of this cruel practice is approved.
For more information contact SAFE spokesperson Hans Kriek 027 446 2711.
Visit http://safe.org.nz/Campaigns/Ban-Live-Sheep-Exports/ for more campaign information.